*ARC Review* Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Vic Howard never wanted
to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of
hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as
Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because
something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible,
unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus,
now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly,
Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the
police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers
and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if
it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful
but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back
the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the
truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he
knew about his life…

My Review

*I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review*What if your life was uprooted and you were haunted by rape and deception? What if you were accused of being a rapist and a liar when you were innocent? Do you think you could survive society’s judgment? Could you handle living in the constant fear of bodily harm? Most rape stories are told from the perspective of the victim, but in Modern Monsters the story is told through the eyes of the accused. It’s raw and edgy, a new take on a horrible situation that will force your mind open to things you never considered before.

Vic is the main character and the man accused of rape, something he would never do. I was surprised by the manner in which he dealt with the situation: In his agony, he is most concerned with the well-being of Callie, the girl who accused him. He is upset and devastated, but his empathy for her situation makes him a selfless person with a kind and gentle heart. He makes it his mission along with Autumn, Callie's best friend, to find out who the real perpetrator is. When the guilty person is revealed you will be in utter shock... it totally stunned me speechless.*My Thoughts & Writing Style* This is the first time I've read any of Kelley York's work and now I want to read more immediately. The characters were so realistic (especially Vic) that I forgot I was reading fiction. It's challenging finding dark YA fiction that isn't sugar coated, but Modern Monsters pressed the boundaries and made for a fantastically candid read. I flew through this 350-page book in in 2 days! I remember a status update I wrote for this book in which I said that I felt I was watching a Law & Order: SVU episode, and that's the easiest way for me to sum up this novel. It would make for a heck of an episode for that show or even a Lifetime channel movie. It does have mature subject matter, but rape is real and opening up conversation about it is one way to educate, foster understanding, and empower women who have experienced something similar. This book shows a different aspect to this crime that is often overlooked. Give it a chance... you will be glad you did.